Reply to WashPost: College is remade as tech majors surge and humanities dwindle

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The problem isn’t the humanities, it’s that middle class people have been told that college is the path to a good career, which they translated as trade school. [/quote]

In the old days, only children of nobles went to college, and the purpose of a college education was anything but a “job.”  Actually getting a “job” was beneath them.  But the purpose of college education has changed greatly over the years.  Yes, most students and their parents look at colleges as no different in essence from trade schools.

That said, why force kids into STEM if they don’t have a passion for it?  CS and engineering undergraduate education is no joke.  There’s a reason why engineering schools (at least the decent ones) have high washout rates.  Kids are not going to thrive in anything they don’t have a passion for.  [/quote]

Maybe brilliant students who get 750 or higher on math without prepping can do well in STEM at T50 school even if they’re not that thrilled with STEM, but these lost children who have their parents manage their college application process, need to prep to get good SAT scores, and think using Khan Academy to get a good grade on an AP test is hard don’t seem like a great fit for physics for physics majors at a good school.

A lot of the parents here are just trying to push their kids into a wood chipper without understanding what they’re doing.

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It has been happening for decades, just worse now.  I knew at least 3 kids in college who hated their premed classes with a passion.  yet they all did NOT have the guts to tell their parents, because they were worried about the response.  So many spent an extra year taking premed courses before they finally gave up and switched courses, typically after killing their gpa with Orgo.  I cannot imagine doing that to my kid---college is their path to figure out.  I provide guidance and help them understand what future jobs will be possible with various degrees.  But it's their path to figure out and study what they love and want to do in the future.  I already had that opportunity. 
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+1. I have noted that many of the kids going to my daughter’s out of state flagship AND UMD seem to be signed up for premed.  Lots and lots and lots.

I can’t believe all these kids came up with that on their own?  Neuroscience, neurophysiology, biology, chemistry , bio, science out the wazoo.

Listen, my DH is an MD.  No way are all these kids going to make it to the end.  We could t believe it when we were at University of Florida info session for admitted students and a mom walked up to us and said “My daughter will study to be a neurosurgeon”.   My husband turned to me and said “ and how does she know her child is actually going to achieve this?”

It’s nice to dream and to try but becoming a physician is a very long and arduous journey.  And highly competitive too!

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In today's environment, it's not worth the stress and time to become a physician.  If you do not specialize, you are not making that much, after malpractice insurance, etc. You are not that well paid for your time, long hours in undergrad, medical school and residency vs what it costs you to accomplish that.   You will do much better in engineering or something else like that financially than being a doctor.   I've always said that---if you do not want to go into medicine because you have a passion for it, you are in the wrong place. The education alone is so expensive.  Much better to get your BS in engineering (which most who would survive med school could manage), start working at 22 and not spend $300K on medical school and other 3-4 years in residency working long hours for minimal pay, having to put off having a family until you are settled oftentimes.

I just cannot imagine telling my kid what to major in---ours have picked their own paths and are happy.  That's what we want.  Now, we have explained to them and discussed what career paths are available for what they are interested in.  And that you can't live a BMW lifestyle in a career that has Kia pay typically---so pick whatever you want, but be realistic about the loans you take for college and what your pay will be the first 5 years out.  So if you have 2 things you equally love, then maybe consider the one that is best to support your lifestyle/pay the bills with wiggle room.  So pick what you are passionate about but with the reality of what that means for the future.

One loves math and chem but hates lab work so was guided towards engineering, as someone with a chemistry degree will largely be doing lab work, and needs a MS or PHD to do the real work and not be a grunt worker in someone else's lab.  Also discussed that with only a BA/BS you will do that work for lower wages until you get the higher degree.  so for a kid who does not want their phd, chemistry is probably not the best choice.  Turns out that was a good choices as after freshman year the kid decided Chem is not what they would ever want to major in, but Chem Eng (which they had already picked) is a much much better fit---turns out the kid loves fluids and transport and everything math, so added a cs/data science minor that will blend well with their Chem Eng major.  [/quote]

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